Sign mechanism



C. ROBERTS Mar, 1925.

S IGN MECHANI SM Filed Jan. 18, 1923 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CHHITLES 5035/7715.

BY L W I ATTORNEY Mar. 3. 1925.

1,528,344 c. ROBERTS SIGN MECHANISM Filed Jan. 18, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L1; 7I

o 2 r o d v I i 1 fi V I I i] 1 V .1 il I '1 17 IIL ill 7 2 4 9 1 1? I I i i a 2'5 if 25 I i r x. 2 k3 I I18 20 INVENTOR Can/745s FOB 5137s.

' ATTORNEY Mar. 3. 1925.

I 1,528,344 C. ROBERTS SIGN MECHANISM Filed Jan. 18, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1925.

PATENT oEricE-i CHARLES ROBERTS, OFNEW'YORK; N. Y.

SIGN MECHANISM.

Application filed Januaryt18; 1923. Seriat No. 613,347.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it'known that I, Grrnnnns-Ronnms, a subject of the King of Great Britaim-a-nd a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sign Mechanism, of whichthe following is a specification, reterencebeingfhad to the accompanying drawings.

An object of my inventionisto-provide a sign which willjdisplay incircuitsuccessive reading matter orother characters.

Another object ofmy invention istoarrange the charactersin rows andha-ve-each row travel as a unit.

Another object ot myv invention is to provide magazines arranged in rows and said rows being arranged one above. the other, each row of said magazines being adapted to accommodate a plurality of characters in each of said magazines.

Another object of my invention is to pro.- vide means for continuously automatically effecting the succession of display of each row of characters in its order.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide means for readily changing the matter to be displayed.

Other objects will be apparent; upon the reading of this specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a cross section taken along-the line 1-1 of Fig. 5 lookingin the-direction or" the arrows;

is a similar crosssection witlnthe operative parts in reversed position to that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section'taken alon-g the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking-in the direction of the arrows;

4 is a cross sectiontaken along-the line ia-a of Fig. 1 lookinginthe direction of the, arrows;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectiontakenalong the line 5-5 of 1 looking in the direction of thearrows;

Fig. 6-is a cross section cfaportion of the character raising mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of-one-of the characters used in my machine;

Fig. 8 is a cross section showinputhe can rier raising mechanism in modifiedform; and y Figs, 9 and 10ers similar views thereof showingthesame'; in different positions of operation;

Referring now 111 -Edeta1l to. the drawings in which similarcharactersrefer to similar thetlinks 14 and 14? which links-are connectedfat'their other end to the; sliding bar 15 adapted'to slide inthe slots 16 in thesupports 10.

Mounted on the bar 15';are-'links;17. at the opposite end ofwhich iszpivoted the baryls which-is adapted to slide-intherecesses19, 19 through connecting pins 20 *and 20 in the ends thereofl (See Fig. 5.) Thebar 18-is normally held by the spring }21 mounted on the-pin 22 inthelink 17, againstthe pin- 23 onthe same link. Integrally connected with the said-'bar-18;are carriers 24': whose most extended 1 position projects them; in the the line of travel of the bottom -bloclcin the lower row. of characters contained in the cartridges 25, rbut not farenoughtherein to interfere with the row of characters next to the-lowest row.-

In'one-form ofthe embodiment ofmy invention shown there ismounted in the supports 10 another bar 26 which isadapted to oscillate therein and which is. operated by the link 27keyed thereto at one end, the other end being in constant contact-with the cam28, said end being provided withsuitable bearing means 29 for such purpose. Mounted on the said-rod26 arethesuspension links 30,- 30 'whichsupport the bar 31. Onthis bar are-mounted pressure projections 32. The link 30,is provided with a lug 5O Whichis normally held; bythespring 33 to the pin ti t in the support 10 of the machine, (See Figs; 1, 2, 3-, 5 and 6.).

In F gs. 8, 9 and 10, I: have," shown a modified form of mechanism for pressing the elevated. block in position 1 on the platform 36. In this form l eliminatejthe,cam and link mechanism described-in the previous paragraph. Mounted. on; the sliding rod 15 iszthe-carrier 6O ,whichextendsacross the machine so as to be adapted to raise an entire row of characters, this carrier being provided with open slots 61 which are preferably located centrally of the respective blocks adapted to be raised by them. The sliding of this carrier is controlled by the link arms 62 and 63 which are hinged at 64. The arm 62 is loosely mounted on the bar 15 so as to oscillate thereon and the l'nk arm 63 is mounted on the power-shaft 11 so as to be operated thereby. The carrier 60 is made integrally with a trip which moves therewith and which is preferably located in defense of the bottom of the slot 61. In the stationary guide 66 is pivotally mounted a dog 67, one leg of which is in the line of travel of the trip 65 and the other leg of which is adapted to press a character block which has been just raised to its limit of height into place on the platform 36. A stop, which is in the form of a bar 68 passing through the various guides 66, is provided to limit the swinging of the dog 67 in both its arcuate directions.

Character blocks 85 are held in aplurality of rows in the magazines25 on the platforms 36 and 37 respectively, such blocks being arranged in any suitable order such as for instance to form reading matter which may readily be read through the open ng 38 which may be covered with a transparent plate or covering 39, if desired. It will be understood in connection with the description of the embodiment of my invention shown that there is a plurality of magazines and that the mechanism for raising character blocks which has just been described is duplicated with reference to each magazine, having connections, however, so that the operation upon the block in each magazine will be in unison with the operation on the blocks in the other magazines, all of the blocks in the bottom row of the lower chambers of the magazines being raised at the same time and all of the blocks in the upper row of the upper chambers of the magaz'nes being pushed off their comm'onplatform 36 at the same time.

, The operation of the machine is as follows. The desired wording is arranged so as to form a row of reading matter before,

the opening 39,- consisting of one character or one blank in each of the magazines 25 visible from said opening, and several rows consisting of several characters superimposed one on the other in each of said magazines, but which characters are so arranged so as to exhibit the desired reading matter when the superimposed characters thereon have been removed. Each magazine isprovided with the same number of characters as the other magazines in the machine and each stock of characters must correspond in number with those of the other magazines" in the same machine. In

the case of continuous reading matter the characters on the blocks visible from the opening 39 are first read when said blocks fall out of their position as hereinafter described and the second row of characters is then read and so on until all of the characters in the machine have performed a complete circuit of travel when the same matter will be exhibited and read in successive sections again. This operation will be continued as long as the machine is being driven.

Power is transmitted to the machine through the pulley 12 which is given a con tinuous movement. This pulley being on the common shaft 11 with the cranks 13, 13 which in turn are linked to the rod 15 carried in the guides 16, gives such rod a reciprocating movement in saidv guides. There being mounted on said rod the linlrs 17 having the tilting carrier bar 18 at their lower ends to which is attached the carriers 2%. one for each magazine, the said carriers will be raised and lowered carrying with them in their upward movement the row of characters lying atthe back of the lower chambers of the n'iagazines, one character in each magazine being raised at the same time.

Assuming the machine to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, the carrier 24: there being shown in its lowest position. the same will be raised until it assumes the position shown in Fig. 2, carrying with it one character in each magazine, which character is supported on its lateral edges by the flange on the partition 71. This character will be held in the position shown in Fig. until the cam28 has operated on the roller 29 to oscillate forward the bar 2-6 on which is mounted the suspension links 30, 30" carrying the rod 31 on which are mounted the pressure elements 32, one for each magazine, when pressure will be imparted to said pressure elements forcing the characters just raised onto the platform 36 and at the same time moving forward the entire stack of characters thereon and thereby pushing olt' the platform 36 the characters just er:- hibited, which fall by gravity onto the plat form 37 and which on account of its inclined plane enables the characters just dropped to rest snugly against the stock of characters in the lower chambers ofthe magazines. The carriers 24 continuing in their travel then move downward as shown in Fig. 6 and are tripped upward in their downward motion by contact with the lowest characters in the lower chambers of the magazines, such tripping being permitted by the swivel mounting of the bar 18 to which the carriers are attached. As they continue down *ard in their travel they will continue their tripped position until they reach the recesses +10 when they will again assume the positioh shown in Fig. 1 by best embodiment ofmy invention.

swing thereon a11cl,1-eciprocating the same in the slot 16. In its upward movement the lowestrow oficharacter blocks in the lower chambers of the magazines; are raised until the same are positioned"slightly above the platform 36, tliejstrips 6.5 'at'the same time engaging th'e le'gs offtli'e dogs 67, WlllCll are in its line of travel, and swings said'dogs so that then; opposite legs will be forced against the character blocks, just raised putting it into their position as the lowest characters- 1n the upper chambers at the'same time pushing" the top characters in saidupper chambers ofi' the'platitorm 36L thereby efi'ecting their fa'llby gravity to the lower ch amber's;

The machine is now" in positiongtor another cycle otniovement, raisingthe row oi characters in the lowestp'osition' in the lowei cliambers oi thefm'agazin'es tothe lowest position in the upperchambers oi -themagazines, and pushing off the" platform 36 the top row of 'jch aracters thereof.

Iha've described what li believeto be the I do not wish to bejlimited," however, in patent protection to thef embodiment shown and described but wl'iat desireto. cover by Letters Patent set forthin the appended claims.

Claims ii In sign mechanism, a pluialityofmag azines arrangedjine row, a; lower andupper chamber in eachmagazi'ne,- each ott said chambers being adapted; to containi a plurality of characterj'b-lq'fi'cks superimposed therein and resting on their-dower edges, the floors of said chambers-inclininginwardly, the floor of the upper cli"an'rlqers e21- tending to a'lineto provide-a space b'etween said i floor and the) back of said chambers, and; means for raising the lowest row of character blocks in the lower chambers through said" space tof assume the position of the lowesti row 01? character blocks in the upper chambers;andthereby discharge from saidupper 'chambers the Lippi-2r row of 3 ch 1" acter blocks th'erein whi'ch descentl by grew ity to assume the position of the upper row oi character block's ir1 the=l-wer chambers.

2. In sign mechanism, a pln-ra-lity of magazines arrange-(Pin a' 1'ou' ',"a logwer -andju p per chamberin eachimagaZine; each off-said chambers being adaptedto contain a plurality of' character blocks superimposed therein andre'sting on their lower; edges, the floors of said chambers" inclining in- Wardly, the floor of theupper chambers commencing at a line within that oi 'the commencing of the floor of the lower cha-n'rbers andextending to a line towardtherear thereof'withinthe lino oi the-rear of the floor of the lower chamber so as to" provide a space intherear otfthe floor ofthe upper chambers, and means'i'or raising the lowest row ofcharacter'blocks in the lower chambers through said spa,ce-to--as'su1ne the position of the lowest row of character blocks in the upper, chambers,,and-- thereby discharge from said upper chambers the upper row of character blocks thereinwhich descend by gravity to. assume the position of the upper row-oi 'character blocks in th c lower chambers.

In sign mechanis1n; a' pluralityoit ma azines arranged in a row, guidesin the rear otf said magazines adapted} tocontrol the direotion of' character blocks; travelling thereon from the lower rowofchamb'ers to the upper row of chambers, ea'ch'of said chambers being adapted to contain a plu ralit-y' of character blocks superimposed therein and'resting on their lower edges, the floors of said chambers inclining in- Wardly, the floor of the upper chambers commencing at: a line within that ofthe commencing of the door of the'lower chainbers and extending to a line. to provide a spacejbetweensaid floor andthesaid guides, and means for raisingthe lowest'row of character blocks in the lower chambers through saidspac'e to assume the position of the lowest row of character blocks in the upper chanib'ers, and thereby disch arge' from said upper chambers the uppeirow of character; blocks therein which descend by gravity to assume the position of theup'perrow of character blocks in the lower chambers.

4.1,In sign mechanism, a plurality of magazinesarranged in a row, alower'and upper chamber in each magazine, guides located' at' the inner endsof said chambers and' means' for raisingrows of character blocks; along: said guides from the lower chambers to the upper chambers,- and thereby discharge from said i upper chambers the upper row of 'character blocks therein I which descend by gravity to; assume the position of Y the upper row of characterblocks in the lower chambers.

5'. Insig ia; llleCllaD-l'SIIh th'e meth'od of successiw 'ely displaying cha=racterblocks which consists of "locating charaeteii blocks: two stacked rows successively raising 5 the'lowest row of character 'blocks inone stack to the position of the lowest' row of oli ara eter .blocks in the other stack, and in positioning said last raised row of character blocks in the upper stack, expelling the top row of character blocks from said upper stack and by gravity positioning the said expelled row of character blocks in the lower stack on their lower edges.

6. In sign mechanism, lower and upper chambers in alignment with each other, said chambers having inclined floors toward the rear thereof, the floor of the lower chamber extending beyond the lateral edges of the floor of the upper chamber, a common guide in the rear of each upper and lower chamber and means for raising the row of character blocks adjacent said guides from the lower chambers, and along said guides to the upper chambers, and means for positioning said row of characters just raised on the floor of the upper chambers, and thereby discharge from said upper chambers the upper row of character blocks therein which descend by gravity. to assume the position of the upper row of character blocks in the lower chambers.

7. In sign mechanism, lower andupper chambers in alignment with each other, said chambers having inclined floors toward the rear thereof, the floor of the lower chamber extending beyond the lateral edges of the floor of the upper chamber, a common guide in the rear of each upper and lower chamber and means for raising the row of character blocks adjacent said guidesfrom the lower chambers, and along said guides to the up per chambers, swivelled lugs, a tripper movable with the aforesaid carrying mechanism, said tripper being adapted in its movement to turn said lugs on their swivel and thereby cause said lugs to force said row of character blocks just raised into position on the floor of the upper chambers, and thereby discharge from said upper chambers the upper row of character blocks therein which descend by gravity to assume the position of the upper row of character blocks in the lower chambers. v i

8. In sign mechanism, lower and upper chambers in alignment with each other, said chambers having inclined floors toward the rear thereof, the floor of the lower chamber extending beyond the lateral edges of the floor of the upper chamber, a common guide inthe rearof each upper and lower chamber and means for raising the row of character blocks adjacent said guides from the lower chambers, and along said guides to the upper chambers, swivelled lugs, a tripper movable with the aforesaid carrying mechanism, said tripper being adapted in its movement to turn said lugs on their swivel and thereby cause said lugs to force said row of character blocks just raised into position on the floor of the upper chambers, and expel the row of character blocks just displayed from the upper chamber, which fall, by gravity, assuming the position of the upper character blocks in the lower chambers.

9. In sign mechanism, lower and -upper chambers having inclined floors toward the rear thereof, said chambers being in alignment with each other, the lateral edges of the floor of the upper chamber being within the lateral edges of the floor of the lower chamber, stacks of character blocks in said chambers, guides located in the rear of said chambers to which the lowest rows of character blocks in said lower and upper chamhers are adjacent, a carrier adapted to reciprocate along said guides and raise the lowest row of character blocks in the lower chambers and deposit the same in the position of the lowest row of character blocks in the upper chambers, and thereby discharge from said upper chambers the upper row of character blocks therein, which descend by gravity to assume the position of the upper row of character blocks in the lower chambers, and means for reciprocating the aforesaid carrier.

10. In sign mechanism, a row of magazines having lower and upper chambers in line with each other, said chambers being adapted to contain stacks of character blocks, guides in the rear of said chambers adapted to guide character blocks in'their travel from the lower chambers to the upper chambers, said magazines being provided with communicating passages between said lower and upper chambers .for that purpose, carriers adapted to reciprocate between the lower chambers and the upper chambers, and carrying with them in their upward travel character blocks lying adjacent to said guides and depositing the same in said upper chambers, and thereby discharge from said upper chambers the upper row of character-blocks therein which descend by gravity to assume the position of the upper row of character blocks in the lower chambers, a wheel and link mechanism connected to the aforesaid carriers and adapted to reciprocate said carriers in line with a guide groove controlling the direotion of travel of the same.

11. In sign mechanism, a magazine having upper and lower chambers, inclined floors in said chambers, the floor of the upper chamber being spaced from the rear thereof to permit character blocks to'be passed by the rear end of said upper inclined floor, means for raising character blocks, a presser element adapted to press forward the character blocks in said upper chamber, and thereby discharge character blocks therefrom, said presser element being pivotally mounted adapted to operate in an arc, and stop for limiting the arcuate move ment thereof, and means for positively operating saidpresser element.

12. In sign mechanism, a magazine having upper and lower chambers, inclined floors in said chambers, the floor of the up per chamber being spaced from the back of said magazine so as to permit character blocks to successively pass thereby, means for raising character blocks, a bifurcated resser element pivotally mounted and adapted to operate in an arc, and stop for limiting the arcuate movement thereof, and means for arcuateiy moving said presser element and thereby projecting one of the bifurcations thereof into presser contact With character blocks on the floor of said upper chamber, and thereby discharge character 16 blocks therefrom.

CHAS. ROBERTS. 

